Centrifugal apparatus for manufacturing concrete pipes and like tubular structures



Sept. 25, 19m

E'.- SCOTT CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS Foa MANUFA CTURING CONCRETE PIPES AND LIKE TUBULAR STRUCTURES Filed Sept. ll.. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZP/Vef//r/ fr afn? y ffm sept, 25, 1923.

E. SCOTT Y CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CONCRETE PIPES AND LIKE TUBULAR STRUCTURES Filed Sept. l1, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept., E. SCOTT CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CONCRETE PIFES AND LIKE TUBULAR STRUCTURES Filed Sept. ll. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lll Fritented Sept., 2d. ldd.

NETE@ ERNEST SCOTT, 0F SUNSHHFEY llCTm, AUSFMM ASSXFE 'ltl S'FT Ml@ FUN "BBOPRIETMY LIMITEE, @F MELBOURNE, WECTRM, AUl'lllEtllL/..

CENTFJXF'UGAL MFAEAUF FGF', MANUFACTURER@ GNEFTF PEPE@ LEBE TUBUELAR STRUGTUFEJEE.

Application tiled Feptember ll, derlei llo. tltf'tl.

To all wwmc't may concer/u.'

Be it known that li, Fenner ESoo'rfrg a suloject of the King of Great Britain and lreland, 'el Forrest Streeta Sunshine., in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth oi Austrelie9 llave invented certain new and useful rnprovenients in end Relating to Centrifugal Appinfattis for. Manutecturing Concrete Pipes and like Tubular Structures, of which the following is e specification.

The present invention" relates specically to apparatus el that type tor moulding concrete tubular 'inodies in which tine plastic materiel ted to the niould is distributed on the wall of the latter by .centrifugal action derived troni the rotary movement out the mould.

'lliis nietliod ot distributing time material in the mould lies long been lrnown, verification et which tact can loe obtained oy inspection et suoli publications es, ior exemple, the yspecications on' British Patents 5978 of i903: 25528 of 1995i 8d90 oi' 1907 2 2935 of 19.08 and 29781 of i909. A

Apparatus tor importing rotary movenient to the mould about eitlier a horizontal or vertical exis is linown and the feed/oi time material to the mould lies-been edected ley mechanical means tlnrougli o hollow core or .mandril to which retraction movement is imported progressively with the torination of the tubular body.

The present improvements reiter to apparatus including a mould rotatable on o longitudinal vertiecl anis ond linving a tubular core for seid mould cssociated with means lor progressively witlidrawingY same from the mould as the tubuler loody is built up troni tile bottom ot the rnould.

lliccordin` to vtliis invention the tubuler core is employed as a container' tor u predetermined measured quantity ot theA concrete mixture required tor tlie manufacture V of one complete tubulnr body and also tuner tions ves n delnite sizing rnernber tor the internal diameter ot the pipe., and said'core is nsseeiated witla ineens at its lower end tor valvulerly controlliu the delivery of seid materiel to the moul @their structurel improvements nre einloy this invention which will be liereinail'ter described and particularly dened in the claims appended to this specitication.

Ehe nccompanying drawings depict the practical application oi the improvements, and to wlilcii reference will new loe made.

Figure l is e side elevation of en epporetus incorporating improvements according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a verticalsection et the epparatus shown in Figure l drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in elevetion or the discharge end ci the container end feeder removed from tlie outer cfr-.sing tunetioning as e mould.

Figure t is a view in pion el e distributor device.

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 3, illustrating tire application oi" en ndjustsible sizing liead to the core end ot the con.- toiner and feeder.

-Figure 6 is n horizontal section on line of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a iregrnentary view in section ot a inucet'pipe having an internal Flange.

Figure 8 is e view in vertical section showing means employed in the construction'hof faucet pipes es illustrated by Figure t.

Figure 9 is a iiorizontol section en line 8-8 Figure 8.

Figure- 10 is a view in verticel section illustrating means employed in the construction of plain pipes.

Figure 1l is a view in vertical section illustrntin;l means whereby the mould shown in figures l end 2 tor the construction ot `.'reucet pipes is usuble tor tlie reanuiecture ot plain pipes.

Figure 12 is c :tragnientery view in vertical section oli a pipe having e metallic band Inouldedin its faucet end.

Figure i3 is e. view in verticel section illustrating ineens employed in tlie construction of the pipe shown by Figure 12.

Figure it is e, view in verticalfsection, drawn to e lnrger scale then the other views9 illustrating modilded menne for the diechnrge ot surplus rnoisture trom tire niould during the rnnnulincture et pipes.

lll)

lllll Figure 15 is a plan view of the revolvable table embodied in the modified construction illustrated by Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a sheet metal mould sprung into position and maintained vertically on a supporting base.

Figure 17 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a modified construction according to which the distributer is formed integrally with the feeder and container.

In these views 1 designates a metal mould for the manufacture of concrete pipes having faucet ends. This mould may be constructed of sheet metal or of cast metal, and ft is preferably formed in two mating sections hingedly connected longitudinally at 2 and having lugs 3 and cotters 4 for locking the mould sections together (see Figure 1) with their adjacent edges in close abutment as seen in Figure 9.

The mould is supported vertically by a metal base 5 from which it is adapted to be readily detached. A V-shaped Vbead 6 is formed on the inner surface of the lower portion of the mould and fits within a correspondingly shaped circumferential groove 7 on said base. This base is adapted to lit snugly within the lower end of said mould, for which urpose it is formed with an upward annu ar extension 8 which functions as a core for the formation of the faucet end of the concrete pipe in the manner hereinafter explained. Said base 5 has a shoulder 9 to provide e'ective support for the concrete mixture delivered to the mould and formin the aforesaid faucet end.

The ase 5 supporting the vertically disposed mould has a partially coned central orifice 10, and it is rigidly but detachably mounted bly means of Cotter bolts 11 upon a horizontal revolvable table 12, preferably constructe of cast`- metal. This table is either formed integrally with', or is affixed to, the upper end of a hollow vertical and revolvable shaft 13 which registers with thc lower end of the coned orifice 10 formed in said base.

The mould casing 1 instead of being formed in sections hingedly connected together, may be constructed of sheet spring steel in unitary form having a longitudinal slit ll--see Figure l--whereby it is adapted to be sprung over the base 5 and maintained by the latter in vertical disposition. rll`he spring metal mould has a V- shaped bead or inward and annular projection 15 adapted to lit snugly within a correspondingly shaped recess7 formed circumferentially in said base 5. Clamp bands 16 are detachably litted to said mould casing 1 and have their contiguous ends perforated at 17 to receive securing bolts 18.

ln lieu of the clamp bands 16, l may provide -apertured lugs on the outer'face of the mould adjacent to the meeting edges of the sltted mould portion, and insert bolts through Said lugs for the purpose of rigidly maintaining said mould closed upon the base 5. This detail constructional modification, although .not illustrated, will be readily understood.

The ,vertical shaft 13 is mounted at its lower end in ball foot-step bearings 19 formed on a metal bed-plate 2O secured to a foundation 21 by bolts or other fastenings 22. The upper end of said vertical shaft is mounted in a ball-bearing 23 fitted to the upper end of a metal pedestal 24y rigidly mounted on the bed-plate 20 by bolts 25.

A driving pulley 26 is fixed upon the vertical hollow shaft 13 in order that the horizontal table 12 with the base 5 and supported mould 1 can be rotated at a required speed by a belt transmission 27 from a variable speed electric motor or other approved power source.

Formed in the upper portion of the mould 1 is an inward a'ge 29 acting as a gauge for the thickness at the top or spigot end of the pipe, while that portion 30 of the mould located above said iiange provides an annular catchment for any surplus moisture exuded from a concrete pipe at the final stage of its manufacture. An inner circumferential recess 31 is formed immediately beneath said flange 29 to provide for the moulding of a locating bead circumferentially on the spigot end of a manufactured pipe.

32 indicates a metallic reinforcement of approved type which may be inserted within the mould casing 1 an is supported at a suitable distance from the internal surface of said mould by the shoulder 9 formed on the metal base 5.

Vertically slidable within the mould 1 is a cylindrical container and feeder 33, ordinarily constructed of sheet metal, the function of which is to hold a predetermined measured quantity of conc-rete mixture necessary for the manufacture of one pipe, and in the course of upward slidable movement imparted thereto to automatically discharge its content continuously in a regular flow into the mould to progressively form a pipe in the manner hereinafter more particularly explained.

A distributer element 34 having its upper portion of conical configuration has a guide ring 35 vertically slidable against Athe inner lower surface of the container and feeder 33 (see Figure 2). Said guide ring is formed integral y with the distributer 34 by radial webs 36. The spaces between these webs permit uninterrupted How of the concrete mixture from the cylindrical container and feeder 33 through the annular space 37 between the lower end of said container and the coned upper portion of said distributer The container and the distributer 34 are of approximately the same diameter, otherwise the progressive manufacture of the concrete pipe cannot be effected consist ent with the eiiiciency of the product when the mould is rotated at a required high speed.

A wearing liner 38 is detachably fitted by bolts 39 exteriorly of the lower end of the distributer 34, and it is constructed having a series of equidistantly spaced vertical bridging bars 40 (see Figures 3 and 5) fitting snugly and slidably within said guide slots 4l formed in the lower end of the container and feeder 33. Said liner 38 aiiixed exteriorly of the lower portion'of the dis tributer 34 functions as a core for the manufacture of a pipe during the progressive vertical slidable movement of said container and feede r33, while said bridging bars, during the rotation of the mould, serve to prevent accumulation of concrete mixture about the annular space 37. The distributer 34 has a centrally disposed and apertured boss 42 through which is passed the lower threaded end of a vertical spindle 43 which is secured thereto by a nut 44. A feed funnel 45 is secured to the upper end of the container and feeder 33, and it has secured within its lower portion a bearing 46 to slidably support the upper end Aof the spindle 43. A jaw 47 affixed adjustably on the' upper extremity of said spindle receives the slotted end of a lever 48 which is retained in position by a pin 49. Said lever is pivoted at 50 to a bracket 5lk secured to said feed funnel 45.

Oppositely positioned and apertured lugs 52 are formed on said funnel and receive shackles or like connections 53 of haulage ropes 54 of a hoisting winch 55, which may be electrically or otherwise driven.

A guide 56 for the slidable concrete container and feeder 33 is mounted in the flooring 57 of a concrete mixing chamber, while a fixed vertical guide, 58 is erected in said mixing chamber and accommodates a slidable weight 59 adapted to contact with the free end of the pivoted lever 48 when said container and feeder 33 has been elevated to the extreme limit of its upward travel and the manufacture of a pipe has been complete'd.

Pivotal movement thus imparted to the lever 48 elevates the distributer 34 so as to close the annular discharge space 37 and thereby function as an automatic cut-off to prevent any surplus concrete mixture, if any, and which may have adhered to the inner surface of the concrete container and feeder 33 from entering the manufactured Pipe An adjustable sizing head may be provided at the lower end of the distributer 34 as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, and it comprises a series of equidistantly spaced fiat metal spring members (il) riveted at one end to the outer surface of said distributer and having their free ends fastened to the outer ends of bolts (il passed through the wall of the distributer. These bolts are readily adjustable by nuts G2 to move said spring members either .nwardly or outwardly, as may be required, to increase the diametral bore of Ithe concrete pipe beyond the diameter of bore initially effected by the core distributer 34, and to automaticallyA smooth its inner surface, the free ends of said members being in the direction of rotation of the mould.

For the manufacture of a concrete pipe of a type having its faucet furnished with an internal flange as (S3-see Figure T-the metal base 5 has its extension 8 fitted with a detachable circular band 64 formed in a plurality of segments-and provided with dovctail projections 65 to fit in similarly-shaped recesses 66 in said extension 8, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. Said extension 8, with attached band G4, functions as a core to form the annular chamber G7 in the faucet end of the pipe and the internal flange 63. Upon removal of the concrete pipe vertically from the base 5, the flange G3 by contacting with the lower edge of the band segments G4 effects the disengagement of the latter from said base.

For the manufacture of a plain concrete pipe, that is to say, a pipe not having a faucet end, I provide a mould and base as illustrated by Figure 10. The base 5 has a curved shoulder 68 to support the lower p0rtion ofthe mould 1a which is of correspondl ing conguration, while the upward eXtension 8 of said base fits snugly within the mould.

Plain concrete pipes can be manufactured by the use of the mould 1 and base 5 seen in Figure Eby the means illustrated in Figure 11, wherein a metal fillingr piece 69 of annular design is fitted around and is supported by the extension 8 so as to fit snugly within the lower end of the mould l. The upper edge of said filling` pieceprovides a support for the concrete mixture delivered to said mould by the distributer 34 fitted to the container and feeder 33.

Figure 12 illustrates a concrete pipe having a metallic band 70 moulded into its faucet end to aid in the formation of a water-'tight ioint between two pipe sections, and also functioning as a reinforcement for the faucet end of said pipe. ln the manufacture of this type of concrete pipe. said metallic band 70.` which has a peripheral bindingr head 7l. is slipped over the base entension 8 and is looselv supported by the shoulder 9-see Figure 13-50 that `it will be dll yiro

moulded into the faucet end of the concrete pipe.

According to the mo'dication illustrated by Figures la and l5, the revolvable horizontal table l2 is hnedly secured to the upper end of a solid vertical shaft 13. Surplus moisture exuded from the concrete mixture during the manufacture of a pipe passes through the oritice l in the metal base 5 onto the revolrable table l2, and is discharged 'therefrom by means of radially arranged channels 72 formed inthe upper surface of said table. rlhese channels deliver into an annular shaped trough 73 detachably secured by studs 74 to a metal frame 75, and furnished with a discharge pipe 76.

Accordino to the modification illustrated in Figure 17, the distributer 3ais constructed integrally 'with the container and feeder 2:33 and/the Wearing liner 3S may be dis-v pensed with. Openings 7 7 for the discharge of concrete mixture into the mould are formed in said feeder and container above its core member 7 8. This core member has a shoulder 7 9 and a sleeve 80 is secured in the vertical guide G and adjustable according to the length of pipe to be manufactured. lWhen the feeder arid container 33 has been elevated to a. sufficient degree for the complete manufacture of a. pipe in vertical progressive manner, the shoulder 79 contactswith the lower end of the sleeve 80, and the latter is then in a position to completely enclose the discharge openings 77 so as to thereby prevent any surplus concrete mixture, which.

may be in the feeder and container, from entering into the now completely manufactured pipe or tubular article.

ln action, the mould l is placed in vertical position on the supporting base 5, with or Without the metal reinforcement 32. rlhe container and feeder 33 iS.l0Wered into the mould until it is in the position illustrated in Figure 2. Rotary motion is imparted to the table 12, base 5 and supported mould l, when a predetermined measured quantity of concrete mixture is delivered into the container and feeder 33 through the funnel 45.

'llhe concrete mixture so delivered descends by gravity and passes between the Webs 36 onto the conical portion of the distributor 3d, whence it is directed into the lower end of the mould designed for the formation of the faucet end of the pipe. rllhe hoisting Winch having been set in motion the container and feeder 33 is progressively raised at a predetermined rate of travel, per

'inittng the concrete mixture to dow by gravity continuously through the discharge opening 37 between the distributor 3d and the lower end of the container and feeder 33. Centrifugal force imparted to the concrete mixture Within the mould 1 causes it to be packed tightly against the inner' surface of said mould, and simultaneously internal incarne force is applied tol the mixture by the Wearing liner 8 affixed to the lower end of' the distributor 3d, which in its upward movement with the container and feeder 33 functions as a core determining the diametral bore of the concrete pipe in the course of manufacture. ldhen the container and feeder 33 has been elevated to a sufficient degree for the progressive and complete'manufacture of a concrete pipe of required length (such length being determined by the mould used) by centrifugal action and the internal force applied by said core, the free end of the pivoted lever 48 contacts with the slidable Weight 59 and imparts pivotal movement to said lever Which raises the distributer ll-independently of the container and feeder Bid-thereby causing its lovver end to Contact With the lower end of said container and feeder so as to close the discharge opening 37 and prevent any surplus concrete ma-- terial (if any) from entering the manufactured pipe.

lVhen there is employed a distributer 3d fitted with a sizing head comprising adjustable spring members as GO, the required in tei-nal diameter of the concrete pipe being manufactured can be accurately determined,

by adjustment of said spring members conveniently effected by manipulation of the nuts u62 of the radially arranged bolts 6l.

Surplus moisture exuded from the concrete mixture, during the progressive formation of the pipe, descends through the central orifice l0 iu the base 5 and thence through the tubular shaft 13, but according to the modified arrangement illustrated in Figures Maand 15, such moisture is deliv` ered intohannels 72 formed radially on the upper surface of the table l2, from which it is dischargedinto the annular trough 73 to be subsequently drawn od' by the pipe 76.

rl`he container and feeder 33 having been raised above the mould l, the manufactured pipe may be conveniently released from the' base 5 and said mould by the removal of the cctter pins l fitted in the lugs 3 when the mould sections can be opened on their hinges SZ. lf desired, the base 5, mould l and contained concrete pipe can be rcmovedi bodily from the table l2 merely by releasing the Cotter bolts 1l.

The action of the modied apparatus illustrated in Figure 17 of the drawings' will be clear aided by the description thereof as hereinbefore set forth. The mechanical integers which are employed for automatically eifecting a closure of the annular discharge opening 37 in the construction illustrated more particularly in Figure 2, and comprising the vertical rod d3, pivoted lever 48 and balance Weight 59 are not required in this modified construction of apparatus, due to the use of a distributer 3divhich is formed lill liti

litt@ ldd Lasarte ture consisting of a tubular body lon 'tuinally slidable within the vertical moul and provided at its/lower end with a distributer element actingl as a core to apply internal pressure to t e concrete during the progressive vertical vmanufacture of the pipe and `with a discharge opening directly adjacent the distributer, said container and core distributer being of approximatel equal diameter, substantially as describe 2. ln apparatus of the type specified, a hollow container and feed device as set forth in claim 1, and an adjustable sizing head at the lower end of the distributer for increasing the. diameter of the bore of the pipe beyond the diameter initially formed y the core distributer during the progressive manufacture of such pipe, substantially as described.

3. lin apparatus of the type specified, a hollow container and feed device as set forth in claim 1, and in which the distributer element is provided with valvular cut-'od means operating automatically when the vertical progressive manufacture of the pipe is completed, substantially as described.

d. In apparatus of the type specified, a hollow container and feed device as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the upper portion of the distributer element is of conical configuration and has a guide ring vertically slidable against the inner lower surface of the container and feeder, said ide ring being formed integrally with t e distributer by radial webs, the spaces between which permit ready How of concrete mixture to the coned outer surface of the distributer and thence to the mould, substantially as described.

' 5. lin apparatus of the type specified, a hollow container and feed device as set forth in claini 1, and wherein the distributer element is fxedly mounted at the lower end ofthe container and feed device, discharge openings being formed in said container and feeddevice, and a cut-off sleeve encircling said container and feed device, substantially,

as described.- Y

6. ln apparatus of the type specified, a hollow container and feed device as set forth in claim 1, and having. vertical bridging `bars on me distributor element slidably litting in slots formed in the lower end of the container and feed'device, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus of the type specified, a hollow container and feed device as set forth in claim 6, and wherein a wearing liner is fitted to the distributer element and the bridging bars are constructed integrally with said liner, substantially asdescribed. 8. In apparatus of the type specified, a

hollow -ellalner and feed device as set forth in claim 1, and having vertical bridging bars on| the distributer element slidably' fitting in slots formed in the lower end of the container and feed device, and an adjustable sizing head on said distributor element, substantially as described.

[9. ln apparatus of the type specified, a hollowrcontainer and feed device as set forth in claim 1, and havin a wearing liner tted to the distributer ciment, bridging bars carried by the liner slidably fitting in slots formed in the lower end of the container and feed device, and an adjustable sizing head'on said distributer element, said sizin head comprising a series of members fixe at one end and having their free ends expansible and contractible by radially adjustable bolts, substantially as described.

10; lln apparatus of the type specified, a hollow container and feed device as set forth in claim 1, in combination with a. tubular base fitted to a horizontally revolvable table, said base detachably supporting thel meould and forming an interlocking engagement therewith, substantially as described.

11. In apparatus of the t specified, a hollow container and feed devlce as set forth in claim 1, in combination with means for progressively elevating said container and feed device with attached distributer, and means for automatically imparting tothe distributer element of'said device a limited upward movement independently of the container upon the completion of manufacture of the pipe, substantially as described.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the mould is, constructed in unitary form of sheet spring metal having a` longitudinal slit ada ting 'it to be sprung over the metal mfoul supporting base tted to the horizontal table, and wherein clamping means are provided to maintain said mould in vertical position on lsaid base, substantially as described.

13. Apparatus 4according to claim 10, wherein the horizontaltable is located on a yvertical hollow shaft, the bore of which registers with the discharge orice in said base, d wherein a driving element ia mounted on said shaft, substantially as described.

14. Ap aratus accordin to claim 10, wherein t e revolvable tab e is mounted on a solid vertical shaft and has channels on its upper face for the delivery of moisture l'lll lllllll ldd lill

llllli tea aaa

Y b\thesformation of the faucet end of the pipe,

and wlfeinshoulder` is formed on said base to support lelconcrete mixture 1n1- tially delivered to the mould,ilsbstti'ally as described.

16. `Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ,mould has an inward flange adjacent to its upper end `functioning as a thickness gauge, an annular catchment for moisture above said flange, and a circumferential recess beneath said flange, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. In apparatus of. the type specified, a hollow container` and feed device as serl forth in claim 1 in combination with a hoisting winch, a funnel, a lever pivoted above said funnel, a vertical spindle having its .lower end secured to the distributer and its upper ,end to said lever, lugs on said funnel receiving the connections "of -haulage Iropes of ysaid winch, a vertical guide, and a slidable weight on said guide adapted to contact with the free end of 'said lever when the container and feeder has been elevated to a predetermined degree following the completion of manufacture of a ipe and thereby further elevate the distrilbuter, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. In apparatus of thetype specified, the improvements according to claim 10, wherein the base has an upward annular extension functioning as a core for the formation of the faucet end of the pipe, and a shoulder formed on said base to support the'concrete mixture initially delivered to the mould, and wherein said extension is fitted with a detachable circular band formed of a plurality of segments, and dove-tail jointin members are provided on saidsegments and on'said base, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

19. In apparatus forv making a concrete pipe or tubular body by centrifugal action, the combination, .with a vertical mould, of a hollow container and feed device for the concrete material disposed within the mould, a base whereon the mould is supported at its lower end having an upstanding annular extension which is spaced from the inner surface of the mould wall to pro- Y said chamber empty. to receive concrete`rna`f\\ terialand thereby form a faucet-shaped end onthe pipe; substantially as described.

20. In apparatus vfork making a concrete pipe or tubular body by centrifugal action, the combination, with a verticalmould, of a hollow container and feed'devicen'for the concrete material disposed within the mould, a base, whereon tliejmould is supported at its lower end having anupstanding annular extension which is spaced from the innersurface of the mould wall to provide an annular chamber therebetween for the reception of concrete material to form a faucet-shaped end on the pipe, and a metallic band loosely encircling said extension and having a peripheral binding bead, said Vband adaptedto be moulded into said faucet end {substantially as described.

21. In apparatus for making a concrete pipe or tubular body by centrifugal action, the combination with a mould rotatable in a set position about'a longitudinal vertical axis, of a hollow container and feed device for. the concrete mixture consisting of a tubular body longitudinally slidable within the vertical mould and provided at its lower end with a distributer element, said tubular` body and distributer acting as a core todetefrmine the internal diameter of the pipe during the progressive vertical feed of the concrete mixture, and said container having a discharge opening directly adjacent the distributer, said container and distributer being of approximately equal diameter; substantially as described. y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twok witnesses; 'i

ERNEST sco'r'r.vv 

